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Hurricane Survivor
Posts: 61
Location: training in South Louisiana | I've had my trailer 3 years now and never have used the water tank in the trailer. With the Hurricane possibly coming my way... I want to use the water tank to store fresh water to use (shower, horses etc...).. So my question is... Should I fill it one time and use the pump to flush the pipes and tank? or since it has been unused, should I just fill it and use it? Can anything crawl in there or get in the tank when not in use? Am I just over thinking this? Thanks. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 383
Location: Texas | I would give it a flush just so your water doesn't taste like plastic. |
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Expert
Posts: 2453
Location: Northern Utah | I'd flush it just to get the plastic flavor out of it. Fill it up and put something in there to clean the tank and lines. There are products you buy at Camperworld and other RV stores that will freshen the tank or use some clorox. That will sterilize and kill any germs, I also like to flush some water with baking soda through as a rinse after the clorox to freshen the system. Then fill it up and use it. |
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Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA | I would add some bleach to the water tank, fill it with water and run some of the mixture through your faucets. Dump the rest of the tank, fill with clean potable water and flush your faucets. Do this two or three times until the bleach taste is gone, and it should be ready to use as a drinking source. Gard |
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Hurricane Survivor
Posts: 61
Location: training in South Louisiana | thanks for the input.. That will be top on my list of Evacuation things to do... So I would think there is a plug at the bottom of the tank to pull to emply any left over water? I guess I have to see about crawling under the trailer to take a look around under there... Thanks again ya'll... |
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Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA | You shouldn't have to crawl around underneath the trailer looking for a drain valve. Most accessible tanks have a drain valve connected directly to the bottom of one end of the tank, above the floor, with a hose dumping overboard. Some valve handles turn, some pull up or down to open. Do the opposite to close it. If you don't have access to a concealed tank, there is usually an accessible valve somewhere to use for the draining process. If you can't find it, a call to your trailer dealer or LQ conversion company can put you on the right track. Gard |
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Hurricane Survivor
Posts: 61
Location: training in South Louisiana | I know where the dirty tank empties, but the water tank, does it also have a place to open to empty it if you don't use all the water? |
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Regular
Posts: 58
Location: Foley, MO | There is usually a low point drain somewhere underneath the tank, and usually has a yellow or other brightly colored cap on it. After you've flushed all the lines, just open all your taps (shower, sink faucet) then open your drain cap. Everything should drain out. Then all you'll need to do is just run the faucets a little to flush out any remaining bleach or baking soda. |
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Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA | Yes. The drains I was explaining was for the POTABLE water tank in your LQ area, not the grey or black water tanks underneath. |
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Hurricane Survivor
Posts: 61
Location: training in South Louisiana | Got it.. Thanks for everything... Hopefully I won't have to use it for evacuating.. but down here ... you never know. |
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Expert
Posts: 2828
Location: Southern New Mexico | On my camper there is a clear flex hose with a grey cap on it. It is a bit smaller than a water hose end and hangs down behind the axls. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 792
Location: East Tennessee, USA, Planet Earth | You need to clean, flush and sanitize your tanks. Fill the tanks with water and add some chlorine, drive the trailer around the block to swish the water on the tanks. Drain the tanks, flush them with clean water....drain again and fill with POTABLE water ...ONLY!!! Add a bit of chlorine to this water to keep it fresh. I only use my fresh water tank for washing/cleaning. I do not drink out of it, but I know that many folks use theirs for drinking water. I perfer to fill my empty gallon water bottles with my well water for drinking. |
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